Wrap around base rail assembly for rooftop air conditioners

Abstract

The present invention is a base assembly for a rooftop air conditioner. The offset tongue of one base rail is slidably received by an open end of the other base rail so that the length of the base assembly may be altered by simply slidably adjusting the relative position of the base rails. The base rails may have a U-shape or an L-shape so that when connected a rectangular base assembly is formed. Alternatively, the base assembly may include side rails and end rails which form a rectangular shape. The side rails and the end rails are formed from a single sheet of steel having a uniform width. The steel sheet is cut into four sections, with the side rails having tongues formed in their ends which engage open ends of the end rails. The corners of the base rails or end rails are integrally formed by bending the rails along lines at selected positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An air conditioner adapted to be mounted on a curb of a building roof, said air conditioner comprising: a housing;   an air conditioning unit disposed within said housing; and   a base assembly connected to said housing and adapted to support said air conditioner on the roof curb, said base assembly including a pair of base rails, said base rails each including two corners, each of said corners formed by each said base rail being bent along a line of said corner, said base assembly including means for slidingly interfitting said base rails whereby one dimension of said base assembly is capable of being altered by slidably adjusting the relative position of said base rails.   
     
     
       2. The air conditioner of claim 1 wherein said base assembly includes a pair of lifting holes having a shape capable of receiving lifting device and said air conditioner is thereby capable of being lifted by means of the lifting device. 
     
     
       3. The air conditioner of claim 2 wherein said base rails include overlapping portion each having a pair of openings, and said base rail openings define said lifting holes whereby the lifting device is supported by said overlapping portions of said base rails. 
     
     
       4. The air conditioner of claim 1 wherein said base rails are generally U-shaped. 
     
     
       5. The air conditioner of claim 1 wherein said base rails are generally L-shaped and arranged to form a rectangle. 
     
     
       6. The air conditioner of claim 1 wherein said base rails are each formed from a single sheet and includes two integral corners. 
     
     
       7. The air conditioner of claim 1 wherein said base rails are U-shaped and are formed from a steel sheet, each of said corners formed by an integral sheet which is bent along a line of said corner. 
     
     
       8. The air conditioner of claim 1 wherein said base rail are formed from a steel sheet. 
     
     
       9. The air conditioner of claim 1 wherein each of said base rails includes a first end and a second end, said first ends including tongues which are offset and said second ends being open, said offset tongues being structured and arranged to fit inside said open second ends. 
     
     
       10. The air conditioner of claim 1 wherein said base assembly includes a plurality of base pans, with said base pans being connected to said base rails. 
     
     
       11. The air conditioner of claim 10 wherein said base assembly includes three of said base pans arranged end to end. 
     
     
       12. An air conditioner adapted to be mounted on a curb of a building roof, said air conditioner comprising: a housing;   a base assembly connected to said housing and adapted to support said air conditioning unit on the roof curb, said base assembly including a pair of side rails including tongues and a pair of end rails having ends, said side rails and said end rails being formed from a single sheet having a uniform length, said end rails being generally U-shaped and having two integral corners, each of said corners formed said single sheet being bent along a line of said corner, whereby said tongues and said ends are connected and said side and end rails form a generally rectangular shape.   
     
     
       13. The air conditioner of claim 12 wherein said base assembly includes a pair of lifting holes whereby a clevis may enter and said air conditioner may be lifted by means of the clevis. 
     
     
       14. The air conditioner of claim 13 wherein said side rails and said end rails include overlapping portions each having a pair of openings, and said side rail openings and said end rail openings define said lifting holes whereby the clevis is supported by said overlapping portions of said side rails and said end rails. 
     
     
       15. The air condition of claim 12 wherein said tongues are offset and said ends are open, said offset tongues being structured and arranged to fit inside and slidably engage said open ends. 
     
     
       16. The air conditioned of claim 12 wherein said base assembly includes a plurality of base pans, with said base pans being connected to said side rails and said end rails. 
     
     
       17. The air conditioner of claim 16 wherein said base assembly includes three of said base pans arranged end to end. 
     
     
       18. An air conditioner adapted to be mounted on a curb of a building roof, said air conditioner comprising: a housing;   an air conditioning unit disposed within said housing; and   a base assembly connected to said housing and adapted to support said air conditioning unit on the roof curb, said base assembly including a pair of side rails and a pair of end rails, said side rails and said end rails being formed from a single sheet having a uniform length, said end rails being generally U-shaped end having two integral corners, said end rails each including tongues and said side rails each having open ends arranged so that said tongues and said open ends are slidably connected whereby the length of said base assembly are capable of being altered by slidably adjusting the relative positions of said side rails and said end rails.   
     
     
       19. The air conditioner of claim 18 wherein said base assembly includes a pair of lifting holes having a shape capable of receiving a lifting device and said air conditioner is thereby capable of being lifted by means of the lifting device. 
     
     
       20. The air conditioner of claim 19 wherein said side rails and said end rails include overlapping portions each having a pair of openings, and said side rail openings and said end rail openings define said lifting holes whereby the lifting device is supported by said overlapping portions of said side rails and said end rails. 
     
     
       21. The air conditioner of claim 18 wherein said base assembly includes three base pans, with said base pans being connected to said side rails and said end rails, said base pans being arranged end to end. 
     
     
       22. For use with an air conditioner, a base assembly adapted to support the air conditioner on a curb of a building roof, said base assembly comprising: a first and second air conditioner on a curb of a building roof, said base assembly comprising:   a first and a second base rail, each of said first and second base rails including two ends, said first and second base rails arranged in a generally rectangular shape with said first base rail ends coupled to said second base rail ends, said base rails each including two corners, each of said corners formed by each said base rail being bent along a line of said corner; and   means for slidingly interfitting said first base rail ends with said second base rail ends whereby one dimension of said base assembly is capable of being altered by slidably adjusting the relative positions of said first and second base rails.